In the absence of a Medical Malpractice Law in the Philippines, it is the hope that this blogspot can serve as a vehicle to sensitize every Filipino to make sure they get proper health care from both doctors and hospitals.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Dr. Malaria's License must be Revoked

Subject:

Medical Malpractice: Dr. Malaria

Thanks for the effort to inform the public about malpractice of doctors in the Phils. What happened to me seems trivial as compared to what was done or not done to others.

I went to the medicare center in our town here in Palawan because of high fever and intolerable headache. The doctor on duty asked me questions:

He then called the nurse who gave him a pen and a sheet of paper. He proceeded to write a "shopping list" of meds, etc. Then he left, leaving the paper to the nurse. I asked the nurse to show me the paper. There was no name of the patient (me), no date, no signature of the doctor. Only names of medicines. No other info like number or pieces of each. The nurse then told my "bantay, neng sunod ka na kay doc, baka magsara na ang botika nila!" I said, "paano ang bayad?" Nurse: "saka na lang po." When my "bantay" returned, she has a bag of what she got from the botika. It was pretty obvious that the doctor's wife in the botika knew the pack to prepare. All for malaria.

So that first night, I was given anti-malarial drugs like 'fancedar' and 'chloroquine'. Same until the 2nd day. Later in the afternoon, I complained because my condition did not improve a bit. Take note, there was no blood smear or urine test at least. I asked the nurse why so. The lab tech was on leave. I showed signs of irritation to the nurse. That was only the time when someone took my blood and urine samples.

I told her that I want to change my doctor... and I did after much "kulitan".

The new doctor confirmed my suspicion. "Wala akong malaria. UTI ang meron." He gave me antibiotics and in less than 4 hours, I was relieved of fever. Imagine, for 2 days they administered 'chloroquine' to me? All the while I have UTI "pala..."

Not only this. There was this patient in the same hospital who has fever when she arrived. "May lagnat ka? Malarya yan. Yon pala, ang dalagita, nadulas dahil maputik ang daan sa kanila." Two more cases were judged with malaria.

well, friend. you are not alone. some years ago i was also a victim of medical malpractice from the hands of doctors in a large hospital. i had organ failure as a result which necessitated organ transplant! i am now suing these "doctors" but i'm up against the system as well.